Wow, it's been about a month. Sorry. But hey, SCHOOLS OUT! That means I should be able to update more frequently, so yay!

Chapter 35

Nick's pov:

I sit on my living room couch and watch a documentary of past hunger games victors. As much as no one liked those times, or the games, the winners sure made their mark on history.

My own mother was on TV as she was a victor. I watch the host interview her in our kitchen. I can't help but give a little laugh as I see me in the background making myself some waffles. My mom begged me to stay out of the kitchen while they were filming but I was hungry. Not to mention I needed to be nearby in case she went into one of her fits.

She only went into a very small tantrum but it was enough to get the host of the discovery show to leave and cut her clip short with a quick comment of, "Some victors are still haunted today."

A commercial comes on. I lazily stand and go to my kitchen to make myself some popcorn. I'm constantly eating, but any boy at age 11 is, we're growing. I get out the chocolate, poor myself a glass of milk, and run to the bathroom to pee. By the time I get back the microwave is at 3…2…1…BEEP. I smile at how much I got done before the timer went off. I pour the popcorn into a bowl and stir in the chocolate with a wooden spoon.

I hear the TV introduce the next victor, no two victors. I guess they got married or something. I step into the living room while continuing to stir in the chocolate. This pair sounds really interesting. I listen to them answer questions. The woman seems nice but there is an undertone that is a bit abrupt and seems a little intimidating but her husband makes up for it with excessive friendliness. By the look of the couch and coffee table, it looks like the interview is taking place in their living room.

Something catches my eyes on the stairs in the background. A girl, not much younger than me, is spying from under dark lashes on the banister. She lets her hair fall in perfect spirals over one shoulder. Her shocking dark blue eyes catch sight of the camera and she leaves in an embarrassed manner. I drop my popcorn. I listen to the bowl shatter on the hard wood. She was the single most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. And now she's gone! It never bothered me before but now I desperately wish we had a DVR so I can rewind it and pause the picture on her.

I run to my neighbor's house. We've only been to his house once, for dinner when I was eight. I remember how he had a recorder. I burst through the door, "Bert, please tell me you recorded the Victor Documentary Bert!"

He looks at me with an almost panicked expression on his face. He turns on the TV and throws me the remote, "Yeah, I did. Why? What's the matter?"

I fast forward through the images then pause it on her adorable face, "Because I've seen an angel."

My eyes flutter open as I take in my angel, now years older but only more beautiful.

"Nick, you passed out. We got in the car, you freaked out, then you fainted. I think you thought I was in trouble but I'm fine I swear. All I want to know is are you ok?" I let my previous thoughts about that sick guard subside with her reassuring voice. And her eyes are grey so that's a good sign that she's not lying.

Out of no where I take notice to how close she is to me. She's so close to me she's practically sitting on my lap and it takes all my willpower not to kiss her right here and now. I know how embarrassed people can get when others show their affection for each other in public and I don't know that I'd be able to restrain myself from letting it go to far-aww, screw it, with the Games approaching, I know our moments together are numbered. I pull her towards me for a long passionate kiss. At first she seems confused but soon she's returning the kiss. Our mouths synchronize and I pull her closer. She, of course, is the one to pull away, "Glad to see you're ok," she says with a smirk.

"I was dreaming about the first time I saw you, I'm great!"

"On the train?" she makes a face like she might be sick. It's not a day either of us like to remember.

"No, I was watching you on television. You were hiding by the stairs' banister in your house while your parents were being interviewed, looking as cute as ever." I smile as I bring the memory again to my mind.

She returns the lost-in-thought smile, "The first time I saw you, you were making waffles," she lets loose a laugh, "That was the moment I knew I wanted to be with you."

I pull her in again for a kiss. I'm not sure where the romance was in admitting that I won her heart by food but it seemed like the right time to finish that kiss.

We are pulled apart by an older guard, my guard. He nods for Prim to take a seat and mutters something about her being just like her mother. He doesn't seem annoyed by it, just like he's stating a fact.

The limo drives and drops us off one by one. Our guards open the car door for us while we make our way up to the door. First Nahla gets off. She rings her hands around her wrists nervously but her face still seems emotionless. When her host opens the door he seems more than pleased by her looks. He can barely contain himself really. She's pulled in before she gets the chance to look one more time at the cab.

Prim leaves next. I don't know why it hurts so much more this time, but watching her walk up the granite steps of the mansion makes a lump catch in my throat. Something seems familiar about this house. The way the rock walls reflect ridiculous amounts of light but in a classy way, the way a chunk of stair is missing from the bottom step, very unusual for a Capitol residence. Something about this strangely eerie place is giving me a bad vibe about tonight. Something tells me Prim is in for the night of her life… you know, in a bad way.

My eyes search the lawn and I see a garden gnome. I hate that gnome, always have. It stands tall and proud leaning leisurely on a shovel. It's smug grin spread across its face. Every time I see it I hear its imaginary voice in an Irish accent mocking me saying "Your girlfriend is right inside those doors getting screwed by anyone and everyone but you. Why; because you wanted to wait. Wait! No one else is waiting…they're having their way with her right now and there's nothing you can do about it."

Of course I'd always answer it, "I want what's best for Prim. Neither of us would be able to handle the pressure of carrying Capitol work home. We need to keep things as separate as possible."

"Keep it separate? Yeah, that's it," I didn't like the sarcasm in this gnome's voice, "Truth is, you're too chicken to do it."

"Chicken? No, that's not it. You see, I have morals. Of which include waiting for marriage."

"You're afraid you don't really love her."

I know that couldn't be it. I loved her since the first day I laid eyes on her, "If there's one thing I'm certain of, it's my love for Prim."

"You fear she might actually like someone else forking her."

"Well naturally. But I just remind myself that she loves me, not them."

"But sometimes you wonder if that's enough to keep you together. You wonder if your love is that strong."

"Like I said, I love Prim with all my heart."

"Yes but does she love you?"

"Well, of course, she tells me everyday."

"But does she mean it or is she humoring you?"

This one catches me off guard, "She means it," I pray this ceramic gnome doesn't hear the falter in my unspoken voice.

"Ahh, but does she?"

"She means it," my voice is an octave too high, I try to correct myself, "She means it, I'm sure of it."

"Then why is she hiding something from you?"

The gnome had me beat. As much as I love Prim and at least assume she loves me too, something has been up since we've been reunited. She gives Lily and Nahla secretive sideways glances. She doesn't talk as much as she usually does and everything she does say usually comes back to food. She is not acting much like herself but at the same time she is.

I watch the door open and Josh is standing there. I curse aloud, that's why it seemed so familiar! Out of pure anger and frustration I leap from my seat in the car. I run across the gravel walkway and up to the front door. She is already inside and the door is closed. I pound at it helplessly but there is no way he will answer the door with that wondrous creature inside. I let out a furious yell.

My guard is starting to emerge from the limo, calling me back. I turn toward him my face red with the exertion of that episode.

I stomp my way back to the car but not before I kick the gnome.

Again, sorry for the wait. And I know I've been keeping the story from progressing for a while but I was feeling garden gnomes. Well next chapter I finally am going to have Prim and Josh.

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